Basics of Wine Cellars and Cellaring Wine

11 Nov Basics of Wine Cellars and Cellaring Wine

Wine cellaring is a trend that is catching up in a big way in Australia. However, many people that jump onto this bandwagon also have extremely strong emotional bonds with wine. At times, these ties are built by childhood memories and the wine that was a favourite with their parents; at others it could be some wine that they found suited their palate and preferences or it could be one they shared with their significant other on a special occasion like a first date or anniversary etc.

This is how people develop strong attachment to a specific wine/s. For many, this emotional connect could become the basis of building their wine collection. However, there are certain things that would have to be kept in view while cellaring wines; here are some basics of wine cellars and cellaring wine:

#1 The right kind of storage

If we lived in a perfect world, it would be possible for every wine lover to get a custom-designed wine cellar installed in their home, where they could ensure their wines are stored in optimal temperature, humidity and lighting conditions. If you don’t have the space on your property for a full-scale wine cellar, ensure that the storage space you build has a temperature in the 12-15 °C range. You can consider getting a wine fridge or opt for off-site options like wine storage warehouses as well.

#2 Maintain a Log

There are a number of ways in which you can maintain a log of the wines you are cellaring. It could be in the form of a simple notepad or spreadsheet or even an app. Regardless of the type of log you use, it’s important that you track the wines in your collection. It would be ideal if you are able to add details such as tasting notes, drink-by dates as well as the prices etc. This ensures you have all the information logged in one place and easily accessible.

#3 Placement of bottles

If you have screwcap wine bottles, you can store them in a standing position and that won’t impact the wine in any way. However, if the wine bottles are corked, you would have to pace them on their side; this ensures the cork won’t dry out. If you overlook this, the outside air will get into the bottle and impact the quality of the wine.

#4 Stock up

Any wine expert will tell you that when you buy a certain type of wine, it’s best to buy at least 3-6 bottles of it. This gives you the chance to taste the wine at different times and assess the manner in which it is developing. This help you estimate when that wine will peak, and you will be able to enjoy it better.

#5 Don’t ignore the whites

With reference to cellaring wines, it’s common for red wines to hog the limelight. However, it might just be a good idea to consider cellaring some premium wines like Chardonnay, Riesling and Semillon; these wines will develop gloriously over time. When you balance out your collection of wines and let their textures, flavours, structures and aromas evolve, even an average wine can transform into an amazing one.

#6 Consider mixes

Every wine collector goes through phases in terms of the style of wines they like at any given point of time. However it’s also very common for people’s tastes to change over time and they find that the wines they really savoured at one point of time don’t really hold their fancy any longer even if they are at their best. This is why it’s a good idea to cellar different styles of wine. You can speak with other wine lovers, join wine clubs and follow social media and wine news articles for recommendations as well as new releases.